Red Rover, Red Rover let inkjet cross over!
I'm in that sunlight driven mood again and thinking about childhood games of summer. Remember the game Red Rover where one team would taunt the other to try to break through their chain? It was not the nicest of games - despite the image of children holding hands. Mostly a lot of taunting and "clothes lining" people you didn't really want to come over.
I feel like there is a lot of that taunting going in in the print world too. The offset echo chamber likes to say that inkjet will never be fast enough or high quality enough to challenge offset. Offset "deniers" in the inkjet world like to ignore the huge strides made in offset automation to reduce waste and make-ready times. It is a rare print event that does not have at least one session with a pundit standing up to explain why the economic crossover, or breakeven, between offset and inkjet is now job size X.
It doesn't matter if X equals 5,000, 1,000 or 100 - the number will be wrong. Or I could be kind and say that it is right - but only for one specific scenario of the pundit's choosing (assumptions for which are rarely explained in their entirety.) What specific inkjet press is being compared to which specific offset press? What is the ink coverage? Substrate? Starting image size? Finished format? These are just some of the things that will impact economic break-even points for a particular job.?
There is no "all inkjet versus all offset" crossover
In "Debunking definitive crossover claims" I contrast discussions that I had at events 10 years ago on this topic with a recent co-presentation with Patrick Murray of Japs Olson and Jennifer Wren of Kodak. We talked about how the economic order quantity, or sweet spot, will be different for every print organization - not just based on what equipment they use, but what they use it for and how they run. Print industry provocateur Eddy Hagen wrote an in-depth piece on the?problems with the "magical graph"?last year that is worth a look also. Digital and analog print processes continue to evolve and how customers use print is evolving too. Volumes are shifting, but it's not a simple inkjet eats toner or inkjet eats offset story. And that's coming from Inkjet Insight - so believe me when I say that inkjet is not the answer to every question.
领英推荐
Taking that discussion to another level, we have to look at the crossover within types of inkjet presses and applications as well. The trend for companies to take on more than one type of work, like commercial and signage or lite packaging, requires a rethink of inkjet economics too. We don't talk much about wide format, grand format or XY scanning inkjet in general, but a lot of printing companies have this kind of equipment in place. Ralf Schlozer Schl?zer used the recent FESPA event as an opportunity to look more closely at applications that can crossover between single pass and multi-pass inkjet formats in "Scanning head versus fixed array inkjet."
Let's stop taunting and learn to play well together by looking at real data and understanding the underlying assumptions in the magic charts presented to the marketplace. As?Gretchen Renaud tells us, we can all learn from each other and help the industry grow.
We've been on an editorial break this week and playing our own kinder, gentler games of summer. Hope you are enjoying the sunshine too.
Elizabeth
You said it, Elizabeth – there is no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to the inkjet/offset crossover point. For those who liked Elizabeth’s piece linked above, we encourage you to download the on-demand version of our recent webinar on this very topic (led by Elizabeth Gooding herself!). Here’s the link: https://www2.kodak.com/find-your-sweet-spot
Printing Theory and Technology Development
1 年Even the modern offset press is not designed to meet the needs of on demand printing where any job can start up and go directly to the desired density targets, without ink adjustment by an operator or a closed loop colour control system. Most people might think this is not possible but it is and it is practical and the tech would cost less. Press manufacturers need to do some innovative thinking. I am for all printing processes to obtain their full potential.
WW Solutions Marketing Director @ Eastman Kodak Company | Product Marketing Leader
1 年It’s reassuring to realize our industry is now debating *where* the cross-over to inkjet takes place instead of if it can take place. And as Eddy Hagen alluded to, we shouldn’t sleep on offset. There’s plenty of opportunity to improve cost, quality, and turnaround time with upgrades to CtP, workflow, and even new plate technology like process-free.
Research & Funding @ VIL ??| After hours: print industry provocateur @ insights4print.ceo & founder Project BBCG - A Better Brand Color Guide
1 年Absolutely right! And printers should understand this: they should find the solution that fits their type of jobs the best. Whether that's the latest, hottest new technology, or 'evolved' old technology. Compare those! Don't only look at the sexy stuff. And for the avid fans of old technology: you could be amazed what some new technology can do! Always look at both sides! Just like you look both sides when crossing a busy street... ?? Unfortunately, for the trade press, those 'small' evolutions in old technology (which can make a big difference), it doesn't seem to look that sexy, therefor these don't get as much of attention as the hot technology does.